Three workers died in separate accidents involving agricultural equipment. Miguel Vargas was decapitated by a wood chipper after a rope around a branch he was feeding into the chipper became tangled around his neck. Two teenage girls, Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall, were electrocuted by a center pivot irrigation system while removing corn tassels. Youth are particularly at risk of death or injury from farm accidents, with 113 dying annually from injuries between 1995-2002. Proper training, use of protective equipment, safe operation of machinery, and awareness of weather conditions can help prevent accidents and save lives.

1. Draft 7.29.2011Cutting it Close: Safety in Agricultural Services

2. Experience doesn’t guarantee safety“Wilson said Vargas's screams would have been drowned out by the noise of the chipper as it stripped and shredded branches.”Accidents might happen, but with awareness, they can always be prevented44-year-old Miguel Vargas had worked for Dwayne Wilson Tree Service for seven years.A rope around a branch Vargas was feeding into a wood chipper became tangled around his neck, and pulled him into the machine.Vargas’ boss, Wilson, immediately turned off the machine – when he looked at Vargas, the machine had already decapitated him.

3. Two teens electrocuted by irrigation system "I heard them yelling. I went over to help,“ Tristen Dudley, 13, of Rock Falls, said. "I didn't do anything because I would have been sucked in."Fourteen-year-olds Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall were working in a cornfield in northwestern Illinois.While removing tassels from corn, the two friends were “electrically shocked by a center pivot irrigation system.”An OSHA investigation into the deaths is ongoing.

4. Youth employment and deaths in the agricultural sectors1.12 million children and adolescents under the age of 20 live on farms – 2006

5. 590,000 of these youth perform work on the farm

6. An additional 307,000 children and adolescents were hired to work on U.S. farms in 2006

7. From 1995-2002, 113 youth die annually from farm-related injuriesDeaths in Ag services at higher rate than most private sector industriesAccording to the 2009 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) there were 4,551 fatal occupation injuriesIn the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries, there were 575 fatal occupational injuries12.6 percent of deaths occurred in this sectorThe overall fatal work injury rate for the U.S. in 2009 was 3.5 fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workersThe rate of death in the agricultural, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries in 2009 was 27.2 people per 100,000 full-time equivalent workersThis is one of the highest rate of deaths among all industries covered by OSHACauses of fatalities in ag services industries in 2009:Contact with objects and equipment (170)Struck by object (97)Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects (58)Transportation incidents (284)Falls (32)

8. Provide workers with the right trainingAreas of Ag services in which workers must receive training according to federal law:The best way to stop preventable accidents and deaths from occurring is to educate the workforce It’s the lawThis investment might seem unnecessary in the short-term, but in the long-term it saves lives and costs less than having to pay worker compensation and legal battlesTemporary Labor Camps – 1910.142Logging – 1910.266Hazard Communication – 1910.1200Cadmium – 1910.1027Roll-Over Protective Structures for Tractors Used in Agricultural Operations – 1928.51 (d)Guarding of Farm Field Equipment, Farmstead Equipment, Cotton Gins – 1928.57 (a) (6(i) through (v)OSHA standards 1910 apply to all non farming operations and only in certain operations on farms.

9. Provide workers proper protectionThe employer is responsible for providing personal protective equipment, [PPE] - 1910.132(f)(1)Agricultural services rely on machines and tools that are dangerous if used improperly and without protective shielding.Workers should wear helmets, gloves, goggles, and other PPE that will prevent injury and even death.The eye pictured of above is a patient who was mowing without protective safety goggles. His retina was irreparably damaged, blinding him in that eye.

10. Provide workers with the right toolsTo create a safe work space, employers must give their employers proper working tools.Workers should pay attention when using electrical tools; these implements can shock and burn workers if used carelessly.Damaged electronic tools should be removed from the work space and discarded.Tools should receive routine maintenance and cleaning, which allows safe use and maximum utilization.Hazard moving parts, such as the rotating metal of a saw, must have guards to protect workers from injury.Factor in weather conditionsNever work in adverse weather conditions.Before working on trees, look at weather reports and determine if any storms could endanger yourself or your workers.Trees act as large conduits of electricity – in a lightning storm, standing beneath a tree is one of the most dangerous places to be.Rain causes slippery surfaces on which workers can trip and fall.

11. Beating the heat – a special note on working in warm weather"Heat illness is 100 percent preventable, and it starts with a three-step process -- water, rest and shade -- and employers need to make sure their employees have access to free drinking water and frequent rest, given the high heat and humid conditions we've had.” – Indiana Department of Labor spokeswoman Stephanie McFarland This summer, we’ve had record highs. Just because the sky is blue and the sun is shining doesn’t mean conditions are safe for workers. Make sure to provide employees with the following amenities when they’re working in the heat and sun.

12. Skin protection Ways to cool off in hot temperatures and to protect the body from harmful UV raysWear loose-fitting, light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants (cotton)

13. Wear a wide-brimmed hat; baseball caps don’t shade the head as well

14. Use sunscreen – minimum SPF 30

15. UV-absorbent sunglasses

16. Limit exposure whenever possibleProtection from heat and humidityDrink small amounts of water frequently

17. Take breaks in the shade

18. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugars

19. Work in the shade if possible

20. Know if any prescriptions turn deadly in high temperaturesHow to trim and fell trees safely

21. Assess the area“To fell a tree” doesn’t mean just cutting it down.Felling incorporates the action by which tree trimmers designate a safe area in which the tree can fall.More people are killed felling than during any other logging activity.

22. Things to remember when felling treesDetermine felling directionTake into account dead trees, direction of pressure, and other trees that could complicate the processProvide retreat path for loggerKeep tabs on all workers’ locationsTypes of preferred tree felling:Top cutBottom or under cutBack cut

23. Avoid and clear power linesTree trimming and removal work done within ten feet of a power line requires trained and experienced tree trimmers who know how to create safe cutting environments.

24. In addition to training, a second trained trimmer must be within the vicinity to assist the first worker in case something were to go array (1910.269(r))

25. Employing that second working and paying for training might seem pricey in the short-run, but the long-term payoff is significantly beneficial.Ensure a safe working environment at all heights Falling is the leading cause of workplace death among all industry occupational fatalities recorded by OSHA “Lift controls shall be tested each day prior to use to determine that such controls are in safe working condition.” - 1910.67(c)(2)(i)When working from an aerial lift, a body belt should be worn and attached to the boom or basket by a lanyardWeight limits specified by the manufacturers should never be exceeded“…an average of two tree care workers die every week on the job. There are about 200,000 tree care workers nationwide. Electrocution, falling from heights and being struck by falling branches are top hazards.” – Mike Garvin, CEO of Tree Care Industry AssociationNoise – don’t let it get to you Noise is a common workplace hazard workers in the various ag servicesOSHA’s permissible exposure limit, or PEL, is 85 dBA for all workers for an 8 hour dayMany of the machines workers use routinely exceed OSHA’s dBA limit.The best solutionsInvest in machines that have vibration reduction technology; they significantly aid in noise level reduction and worker healthPurchase ear protection for all workers

26. Essential practices to remember when using tree trimming machineryChainsaws Wood chippersBefore use, check the parts of the chainsaw to make sure it will function properlyStart the saw on the ground; drop starting is NEVER allowedClear away debris, branches, rock and metals away from the chains pathMaintain balance and focus when operating the sawWear PPE to protect your bodyDo not wear loose-fitting clothesBe careful that the branch or tree being cut does not bind the chainsawBe careful about chainsaw kickbackTo avoid this, DO NOT saw with tipKeep tip guard in placeUnderstand the manufacturer’s guidelines for machine operationUndergo thorough training of the machineNEVER reach into the chipper while it is turned onChippers make a lot of noise and chew up and shoot out debris – wear PPE, including earplugs, safety glasses, hard hats and glovesMaintain a safe distance (two tree or log lengths) from chipper operations and other workersRemember to use the lockout system to prevent the chipper from restarting when servicing the chipper

27. Farming SafetyFarming can be a rewarding job. But there are many dangers inherent in farming. The profession involves heavy machinery, potentially deadly chemicals, animals, and incorporating family into the work force. Also, farms are in rural, remote settings far from the care of hospitals or doctors’ offices. Preventative measures outlined in OSHA guidelines and regulations will help farmers and their farmhands maintain safe working environments.

28. Tractors and Large MachineryMost farm accidents involve heavy machineryAll farming implements should have proper guard protection, much like any other tool in any other industryRoutine maintenance to tractors and other machinery keeps machine functional and operating safelyTractors must have sufficient rollover protective structures that meet OSHA standards - 1928.51Just as when driving a car, tractor drivers should be aware of their surrounding. Blind spots endanger fellow farm hands or family members on the ground.Quick tips for tractor safety (OSHA Standard 1928)Avoid steep slopesBuckle upProperly secure the brakesMake sure the path on which you’re driving the tractor is clear of people and obstaclesDo not allow riders

29. Chemical SafetyShort-term and long-term exposure to certain farm chemicals can cause irreversible adverse health effectsThere are numerous ways pesticides and other farming chemicals can enter the body: the skin, clothes, or breathingThe Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 poisonings happen every year among agricultural workers.To prevent poisoning and other dangerous health complications, make sure to do the following:Be trained to use the chemicals you’re spraying on cropsBe aware that at any given time, there might be pesticides on the plants, in the soil, irrigation water Keep chemicals in restricted areasWash before eating or any activity involving the handsWear PPE to protect the bodyShower after working with chemicalsWash your work clothes separately from other laundryIf contact is made with a chemical, wash it off immediately and seek medical attention

30. Family and Child SafetyFarming, unlike many other occupations, involves an area co-inhabited by a residence and workplace

31. Members of the family become de facto farmhands to help the family business

32. Injury rates are highest among two groups: workers over 65 and the youth, ages 15 and under

33. Children playing around the house and the barn are subjected to many dangers.

34. Machinery

35. Animals

36. Chemicals

37. Not only should workers on the farm undergo proper training to deal with the dangers associated in everyday farming, but the family should be educated to ensure their normal day-to-day lives are not disrupted by preventable accidentsCody Rigsby, 17, died at a grain elevator Tempel Grain operated in Haswell in Kiowa County. On May 29, 2009, he climbed a ladder and entered a grain bin, where the grain continued to flow and engulfed him, suffocating him, according to court documents. – Liz Navratil, Denver Post, July 27, 2011

38. Education is the best means of preventionThis presentation scratches the surface of all the safety guidelines and regulations OSHA enforces to protect the United State workforce in agricultural service industries. Before starting work in any industry, workers must educate themselves with proper training to protect themselves; it is also their employer’s responsibility to provide that training. A class can go a long way to ensure workers’ safety. Investing in safety might mean a short-term set back, but employers who take the time to create a safe working environment benefit the most by having healthy employees and profitable business endeavors.

39. Further This ppt was prepared by Trevor Eischen as a preliminary aid for people required to work in agriculture services.Thanks to John Newquist, Tonya Ford and Janet S. for corrections and suggestions. This is not an official OSHA publication. Those will be on the OSHA.gov website. trevoreischen1714@gmail.com is my email if you see any errors. This is just a draft as of the cover date.